The IUP-Northpointe campus in Freeport will begin offering Marketing courses for a Bachelor's degree when classes resume next week.

by Jonathan Weaver

Some students at Indiana University of Pennsylvania at Northpointe, located in Slate Lick, will be enrolling in a new four-year major offered at the campus –marketing – when the fall semester begins next week.

The course is also available at the IUP main campus in Indiana, Pa. but Associate Professor of Marketing Dr. Parimal Bhagat, Chair of the Marketing Department, said the new degree was established in order to better serve the students in the local area.

The new course will have class offerings online as well as a typical classroom setting.

Core business courses required for the degree are offered online during the fall, spring or summer sessions. Other degree requirements for the major in marketing are offered through a combination of traditional face-to-face instruction on the Northpointe campus and online courses.

Bhagat said marketing is a popular major at the main campus and hopes to continue success at Northpointe.

“In the college classes here at IUP, marketing is one of the largest majors of the business department,” Bhagat said.

IUP – Northpointe Director Richard Muth is excited about the new opportunity to its students.

“This is a very exciting opportunity for local IUP students, especially those who are unable or not interested in completing their coursework on IUP’s main campus,” Muth said.

Throughout the program, students will be able to receive support on the Northpointe campus to achieve academic success through services such as math tutoring, writing center guidance, library assistance and technology support.

Students interested in this program attended a “Discovery Day” on July 21. Interim Assistant Director Kristen O`Hara estimated about 30 prospective students were in attendance, though they were undecided their major or school of choice.